Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04
HEALTH AND EXERCISE.
4 Strong Plea for Athletic TRAINING,
with Notable Instances OF ITS Great
Value.

DE- !. William White in Lippincctt's.
When We hear that VIM. Cullen Bryant, most
remarkable example Of the preservation Of undi-
mintshed mental and physical vigor TO advanced
yearA attributed IL to habit formed In early life
OF devotng the first hour or two after leaving his
bed In the morning to moderate gymnastic exer-
case, his allowance OF which he had not reduced
''the width Of thumb-nail" in his eighty fourth
year-when we read that Mr.. Gladstone, on the
morning that be introduced his home-rule bill,
while all England, indeed the whole world, was to
be his audience In q few hours, and while the fate
OF great parties and OF entire race was involved
IN his presentment OF his case, "spent an hour in
nus private gymnasium, after which he bathed
ana ate light breakfast"-we may believe that
exercise has something to commend It to the
thoughtful attention OF other people than school,
pOys ot college students.
tne vita! organs and powers as any other form Of
physical exercise probably more than any except
s Long running At high speed In racing the chief
form OF athletics any organic disease were con-
sta1tly or frequently developed we should ind
In Harvard University crews which rowed against
yale IN the quarter Of century from 1852 to 1876
tnere were but seven deaths known to have result
trouble, ono from Braght's disease, and ave from
consumption. Another one of the oarsmen living
these SIX cases Of consumption. however. there
was distinct hereditary predisposition, and in the
OI1er TWO the habits OF life had been most irregular
we know, TOO that athletic sports and exercises
nave often had q marked and distinct curative
enect upon already existent disease. Alexander
HumDolot was extremely delicate in his youth,
and attributed the wonderful power and endur-
ance OF his later life to physical exercise under
taken Tor the purpose OF enabling him to carry on
Tor the statement that Blaikie the celebrated oar
anu athlete, began his athletic career an appa-
rently hopeless consumptive.
finally, no system OF physical education Is COM
plete unless 1t recognizes the necessity which
ISIS Tor attending to the symmetrical develop
ment OF the body. II, for example, you viii care
lully examine typical rowing man, one who has
oeen exclusively an oarsman, you will see that his
hpS and thighs developed at the expense OF his
calves; that the muscles OF his back and oins are
lar stronger than his chest muscles that his back
arm and forearm somewhat exceed In development
and hardness the front arm, though neither Is no.
tcea0ly developed. This Indicates also the proper
exercises with which to supplement rowing in
SUCH man--which will round him out, complete
his development, add to his symmetry and In
crease his general health and efficiency. He needs
obviously, running for his legs, the parallel bars
and this would be the advice which he would re-
ceive from careful and intelligent trainer to his
great advantage not only as man or an athlete,
but also as on Oarsman.
Furthef examples might be drawn from other
OF our atnletlc sports to illustrate the general and
important truth that no one exercise (nor indeed,
any series or the recreative and competitive exer-
ciseS alone will give complete and symmetrical
development, or enable the amateur athlete to
''get the most out OF himself" as the phrase goes
with ease, comfort and safety.